Galería Las Américas was founded by Chicana artist Linda Vallejo in 1989. Vallejo opened the gallery in Los Angeles with the intentions of creating a space where both Chicano and Latino artists could exhibit their work. The gallery subsequently moved to Santa Monica. Today, Galería Las Américas exists solely in electronic form on the Internet and is affiliated with aztlannet.com, a state-of-the-art website representing Chicano and Latino Americano contemporary art. From its inception, the gallery has maintained the mission of presenting a "full spectrum of art, a reservoir of sophisticated and mature artists, views and visions of the Latino Americano and Chicano Arts community," in addition to the promotion of Chicano and Latino Americano artists and their art.
The gallery is one of the few nationwide that has dedicated itself to the voice and vision of contemporary living artists. Since the gallery's opening it has represented artists from South America, Central America, México, Cuba, Spain, Puerto Rico and the United States.
The gallery is one of the few nationwide that has dedicated itself to the voice and vision of contemporary living artists. Since the gallery's opening it has represented artists from South America, Central America, México, Cuba, Spain, Puerto Rico and the United States.
One of the gallery's major projects was the publication of Arte de las Américas, a four-color fine art catalog featuring thirteen artists who brought to light a multitude of dynamic and diverse expressions of this art movement for future generations. Among the artists associated with Galería Las Américas are David Botello, Nik Fernández, Wayne Healy, Mario G. López, Isabel Martinez, Tony Ortega, Rodrigo Palacios, Sara Palacios, Daniel Salazar, Teddy Sandoval, Rudy Torres, Linda Vallejo, and René Vásquez
Galería Las Américas continues to engage serious collectors interested in creating major collections of Chicano and Latino Americano art work. It continues to promote individual artists to a wide international public and most importantly continues to advance Chicano and Latino Americano artists and art. Galería Las Américas inaugurated its collection by setting up its press files in CEMA in April 1999 as part of a broader archival collection that represents and documents the gallery's first decade of existence. The press files include publicity materials, reviews and articles, press releases, invitations, and special event announcements. Galería Las Americas' archives, amounting to fifteen linear feet, include exhibition files, artist portfolios, correspondences, photographs and slides.
